A soldier had been out scouting the area for enemies. On his way home he stopped at a humble cottage and asked for shelter. An older couple answered the door, took pity on him and allowed him to stay the night. The stranger was exhausted and retired as soon as he was shown his room. The mistress of the home then locked up all of her valuables in case this man was a thief. However, before she fell asleep, she heard speaking in the next room. She listened closer and heard a prayer offered in gentle yet solemn tones. It was the stranger praying for his country, for the soldiers who were fighting for the noble cause. The woman was ashamed of her suspicious fears. She got up and put the key back in the cupboard door and slept peacefully and soundly through the night. The next morning, the stranger could not stay. He offered to pay for his night’s lodging, but the old couple refused. Then, said the guest, ‘you deserve to know who I am, who you have entertained and treated so nobly. I am General Washington.’
What made the old woman distrust the stranger? What changed the old woman’s perception?
Increasingly we see top leaders, CEO's falling from fame
due to some or the other transgressions they make. During the recent recession it was noted that as the US
government was bailing out banks and insurance companies, top CEO's of those very companies made millions in
insider tradings.
Purity of the heart…when things are done with a pure heart it touches the others heart, when that is not the intention. How many times we hear great presentations, get impressed and but never act on them?
The "Stranger" was not a selfish thief but an evolved personality who knew the importance of 1. Thinking of just beyond his individual self 2. Power of prayers 3.Exending for cause of society and others at large
The woman reaised this and thus was ashamed of her earlier thughts
Its natural to be suspicious and especially considering that they are old couples. The heart of the soldier transformed the perception. This proves 'Sincerity of purpose'. Good intentions are revealed not by showing of but by higher powers in due course and naturally.
The world has become such a nasty place, its difficult to find genuine people.. so may be based on previous experience, to be safer rather than being sorry later, may have made the women distrust the stranger at first.
Purity of heart and intention of the solider must be so pure and was prayerful, his genuine nature would have changed the women's perception.
The old woman, due to her limited experience and deep attachment to material things (a life centered around self) distrusted the stranger initially. But when she heard the stranger deeply praying for his countrymen (an act beyond the interest of self – at least superficially), she was touched by his intention of extending himself for others.
His genuine prayer without a show.
prayers can move mountains!!
Behaviour of a Leader should be in such a way that it should motivate the people. We have to be humble in all our state of life..
Sincerity of purpose makes a Leader trustworthy
This is a age of kali,full of quarrel and hypocricy.The product of this is also a mistrust.Therefore old woman locked her valuables thinking a stranger is thief.It is a effect of time.But soon she heard stranger offering prayers,her perception about stranger changed.It is power of prayers to the Supreme Almighty that will be answered at any given point time depend upon our approach toward that Supreme Almighty.Thank you very much such a self-introspecting story.
Great ,
you can always win love of your seniors but to earn the trust is the biggest thing.
Unless the heart is cleansed, we see only the negative in others.The woman's heart was purified when she heardhim praying
It is advised to mistrust stranger to be practical.
When the host understood the heart of the soldier from his genuine prayers – she could be sure about the integrity of the guest.
Great article!
Its true the leader should be great leader he should be not like todays politicians.
A good deed always comes with dual emotions pain and pleasure. If the act of goodness offered by one person is accepted by the receiving person with gratitude and without any misuse it brings joy and pleasure in the heart of person doing good but if it comes with exploitation or misuse of goodness, it brings anger and fear in the person offering help. This practical and dual feeling made the women help the stranger but also distrust the stranger at the same time.
I am agree with Saurabh…Your act always comes with pain or pleasure…
Great post I must say. Simple but yet interesting and engaging. Keep up a good work!
Great post I must say. Simple but yet interesting. Wonderful work!
The stranger's selfless behaviour & purity of mind & speech was enough for the lady to be free from any fear of him, & that such qualities cannot come without a tinge of spirituality.
When the Leader is Selfless, genuinely wanting the good of the people he is leading and not exploiting them for his own selfish agendas; this makes him Trustworthy!
She might have had a bad experience in past or may have heard or seen others having such bad experiences so she was suspicious. But when she found how he really was, all her fears went away,his prayers made her understand that he could not be the kind she had thought him to be…
Probably accustomed to cheating … but here was a great soul!
Thank you so much for this great webite! It is very informative.
when someone judges wrongly, he/she looses the friendship opportunities.
we can say also, when someone judges in hurry, he/she looses the friendship opportunities.
In Kaliyuga, the age of quarrel and hippocracy, it is hard in general to trust someone, specially strangers. The general’s faith in God and genuine and humble prayers offered reassured the old lady of his Godly character and hence transpired trust.
Trust follows where purity and sincere intentions lead.
Fault finding is natural tendency of a conditioned soul.This can only be overcomed when one turns towards God consciousness
prayer is so powerful… and the old lady was tuned in too!
The character of a person can be judged with what he does when apparently no body is watching him. Prayers represent a noble man who depend on God and prayer for others show his compassionate loving heart.
The woman didn’t believe him because he was a stranger however listening his “Prayers” the heart of the woman changed.
That is true, one’s character is known by what one does when one is alone.